U.S. patent number 8,763,471 [Application Number 13/947,188] was granted by the patent office on 2014-07-01 for high-capacity wide-range variable rotational rate vane testing device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy. The grantee listed for this patent is Andrei Abelev, Philip J. Valent, David C Young. Invention is credited to Andrei Abelev, Philip J. Valent, David C Young.
United States Patent |
8,763,471 |
Abelev , et al. |
July 1, 2014 |
High-capacity wide-range variable rotational rate vane testing
device
Abstract
System and method for using an apparatus for measuring shear
strength and viscosity of sediments that extend both the maximum
rotational rate attainable and the maximum torque sustainable, and
include a high data acquisition rate and data storage. The
apparatus can accurately measure, for example, but not limited to,
peak, evolution, and residual values of the undrained shear
strength, yield, and viscous and plastic flow (including hardening
and softening) characteristics of cohesive sediments at various
pre-set and variable values of the rotational velocity of the vane
sensor.
Inventors: |
Abelev; Andrei (Mclean, VA),
Young; David C (Long Beach, MS), Valent; Philip J.
(Slidell, LA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Abelev; Andrei
Young; David C
Valent; Philip J. |
Mclean
Long Beach
Slidell |
VA
MS
LA |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
The United States of America, as
represented by the Secretary of the Navy (Washington,
DC)
|
Family
ID: |
47140934 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/947,188 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20130298694 A1 |
Nov 14, 2013 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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13106166 |
May 12, 2011 |
8505390 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
73/841 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N
11/00 (20130101); G01N 11/14 (20130101); G01N
3/24 (20130101); G01N 3/62 (20130101); Y10T
29/49963 (20150115); Y10T 29/49771 (20150115); Y10T
29/49947 (20150115); Y10T 29/53 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
G01N
3/24 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;73/841 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
H-60, Inspection vane tester user manual, Geonor A/S, Geonor, Inc.,
Milford, PA, pp. 1-7, Sep. 22, 2004 (from document properties).
cited by applicant .
Abelev, A., et al, U.S. Appl. No. 13/945,644, High-Capacity
Wide-Range Variable Rotational Rate Vane Testing Device, Divisional
of U.S. Appl. No. 13/106,166, filed Jul. 18, 2013. cited by
applicant .
Abelev, A., et al, U.S. Appl. No. 13/947,231, High-Capacity
Wide-Range Variable Rotational Rate Vane Testing Device, Divisional
of U.S. Appl. No. 13/106,166, filed Jul. 22, 2013. cited by
applicant .
Notice of Allowance, U.S. Appl. No. 13/106,166, NOA mailed on Apr.
15, 2013, filed on May, 12, 2011. cited by applicant .
Wykeham Farrance, Laboratory Vane Apparatus with a vane of 12.7 mm
.times. 12.7 mm configuration and set of four calibrated springs,
Sep. 18, 2007, weblink. cited by applicant .
Peterson, L.M., Johnson, G.W., and Babb, L.V., High Quality
Sampling and in Situ testing for deepwater geotechnical site
investigation, pp. 913-915, 1986. cited by applicant .
Perlow, M., Jr., and Richards, A.F., Influence of Shear Velocity on
Vane Shear Strength, Journal of Geotechnical Engineering Division,
vol. 104, GT12, pp. 1517-1518, Dec. 1978. cited by applicant .
Perlow, M., Jr., and Richards, A.F. Influence of Shear Velocity on
Vane Shear Strength, Journal of the Geotechnical Engineering
Division, pp. 19-32, Jan. 1977. cited by applicant .
Perez-Foguet, A., Ledesma A. and Huerta, A., Analysis of the Vane
Test Considering Size and Time Effects, International Journal for
Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, Int. J. Numer.
Anal. Meth. Geomech, 23, pp. 383-412, 1999. cited by applicant
.
Poulos, H.G., Marine Geotechnics, School of Civil and Mining
Engineering, University of Sydney, section 4.4, pp. 164-171, 1988.
cited by applicant .
Monney, N.T., Analysis of the Vane Shear Test at Varying Rates of
Shear, Deep-Sea Sediments, Anton L. Inderbitzen, (ed), pp. 151-167,
1974. cited by applicant .
Locat, J. and Demers, D., Viscosity, yield stress, remolded
strength and liquidity index relationships for sensitive clays,
Can. Geotech. J. 25, pp. 799-806, 1988. cited by applicant .
Einav, I. and Randolph, M. Technical Note, Effect of strain rate on
mobilised strength and thickness of curved shear bands,
Geotechnique 56, No. 7, pp. 501-504, 2006. cited by applicant .
Biscontin, G. and Pestana, J.M., Technical Note, Influence of
Peripheral Velocity on Van Shear Strength of an Artificial Clay,
Geotechnical Testing Journal, GTJODJ, vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 423-429,
Dec. 2001. cited by applicant .
Torstensson, B., Time-dependent effects in the field vane test,
Geotechnical Aspects of Soft Clays: Proceedings of the
International Symposium on Soft Clay, Brenner, R.P. and Brand, E.W.
(eds), Asian Institute of Technology, Bankok, Thailand, pp.
387-397, Jul. 5-6, 1977. cited by applicant .
ASTM, Designation: D 4648-05, Standard Test Method for Laboratory
Miniature Vane Shear Test for Standard Fine-Grained Clayey Soil,
ASTM International, 100 Bar Harbor, Dr., West Conshohocken, PA,
2005. cited by applicant .
ASTM, Designation: D2573-08, Standard Test Method for Field Vane
Shear Test for Saturated Cohesive Soil, ASTM International, 100 Bar
Harbor, Dr., West Conshohocken, PA, 2008. cited by applicant .
Brookfield Engineering Laboratories, Inc., R/S+ series Rheometers,
www.bookfieldengineering.com, Mar. 13, 2009 (created date from
document properties). cited by applicant .
Office Action, Non-Final Rejection, U.S. Appl. 13/106,166, mail
date Dec. 19, 2012. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Caputo; Lisa
Assistant Examiner: Davis-Hollington; Octavia
Attorney, Agent or Firm: US Naval Research Laboratory
Chapman; Kathleen
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional of pending U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/106,166 entitled HIGH-CAPACITY WIDE-RANGE VARIABLE
ROTATIONAL RATE VANE TESTING DEVICE, filed on May 12, 2011,
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent of the United States is:
1. A method for using an apparatus for measuring characteristics
comprising: fixing a specimen proximal to the apparatus, the
apparatus including (1) a main tower attached to a base plate, (2)
a main measurement head connected to the main tower by a spring
mechanism, the main measurement head including a drive motor, (3) a
load cell shaft coupled with the drive motor, the load cell shaft
including a load cell, and (4) a sensor drive shaft including an
attached sensor, the sensor drive shaft coupled with the load cell;
lowering the main measurement head into the specimen; fixing the
main measurement head in place; setting a rotational velocity; and
measuring, with the sensor, the characteristics of the specimen and
the motor.
2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: providing the
measured characteristics to the load cell, the load cell providing
the measured characteristics to a computer.
3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the characteristics comprise
torque generated by the resistance of the specimen to movement of
the sensor, motor current velocity, motor position, and motor
torque.
4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: lowering the main
measurement head into the specimen to a pre-selected depth.
5. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: providing the
specimen in a vessel.
6. The method as in claim 1 wherein the spring mechanism is
constant load.
7. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: fixing the main
measurement head in place by tightening screws on a slider part of
the main tower.
8. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: monitoring,
recording, and storing the characteristics.
9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: deriving undrained
shear strength, residual shear strength, viscosity, and yield
properties as a function of time and the characteristics.
10. The method as in claim 9 further comprising: applying, by the
main measurement head, a rotation rate of up to about 4000 rpm to
the sensor drive shaft.
11. The method as in claim 10 further comprising: coupling a
computer to the main measurement head, the computer collecting the
characteristics while the rotation rate is greater than about 1200
rpm.
12. The method as in claim 11 further comprising: collecting the
characteristics by the computer while the undrained shear strength
is greater than about 6 kPa.
13. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: selecting the
sensor from a group consisting of WYKEHAM FARRANCE.TM. vanes and
BROOKFIELD.RTM. Engineering rheometers.
14. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: mounting a
height-adjustable specimen holder on the main tower.
15. The method as in claim 1 further comprising: mounting a
girth-adjustable specimen holder on the main tower.
16. The method as in claim 1 wherein the main measurement head
comprises a torque load cell.
17. A system for using an apparatus for measuring characteristics
comprising: means for fixing a specimen proximal to the apparatus,
the apparatus including (1) a main tower attached to a base plate,
(2) a main measurement head connected to the main tower by a spring
mechanism, the main measurement head including a drive motor, (3) a
load cell shaft coupled with the drive motor, the load cell shaft
including a load cell, and (4) a sensor drive shaft including an
attached sensor, the sensor drive shaft coupled with the load cell;
means for lowering the main measurement head into the specimen;
means for fixing the main measurement head in place; and means for
setting a rotational velocity, wherein the sensor measures the
characteristics of the specimen and the motor, the sensor provides
the measured characteristics to the load cell, and the load cell
provides the measured characteristics to a computer.
18. The system as in claim 17 further comprising: means for
lowering the main measurement head into the specimen to a
pre-selected depth; means for fixing the main measurement head in
place; means for monitoring, recording, and storing the
characteristics.
19. The system as in claim 17 further comprising: means for
deriving undrained shear strength, residual shear strength,
viscosity, and yield properties as a function of time and the
characteristics.
20. The system as in claim 19 wherein the main measurement head
applies a rotation rate of up to about 4000 rpm to the sensor drive
shaft, a computer coupled to the main measurement head collects the
characteristics while the rotation rate is greater than about 1200
rpm, and the computer collects the characteristics while the
undrained shear strength is greater than about 6 kPa.
Description
BACKGROUND
Devices and methods disclosed herein relate generally to testing
devices, and more specifically, to vane shear testing devices.
Vane shear testing devices are used in geotechnical engineering for
determination of undrained shear strength, including undisturbed
and remolded values. They are also used to study the effects of
rotational rate on strength and as a tool for measurement of
viscosity and other flow properties as a function of the rotational
velocity or resulting strain rate in a variety of materials and
sediments. The vane sensor is one of the main sensor configurations
used in commercial rheometry products, for example, but not limited
to, R/S Soft Solids Tester by BROOKFIELD.RTM. Engineering. Existing
vane shear testing devices can be used, for example, but not
limited to, (a) as handheld devices for rapid in-situ determination
of the undrained shear strength of mostly surficial sediments in
situ, and (b) in a bore-hole configuration in terrestrial and
marine environments, for example, in FUGRO.RTM. Seaclam and
FUGRO.RTM. Halibut systems. Additionally, vane testing can be used
in the laboratory on sediment specimens retrieved in coring or
drill cylinders. In this application, the sediment core is split
either along its length or cut into several sub-sections normal to
its long axis. Vane tests can be performed on the exposed soil
surface utilizing a variety of vane devices. General engineering
practice typically calls for testing for the strength parameters
(undrained shear strength, residual/remolded strength) at a
rotation rate of 60-90 deg/min (ASTM Standard. (2005)). See "D4648
Standard Test Method for Laboratory Miniature Vane Shear Test for
Saturated Fine-Grained Clayey Soil." ASTM International, West
Conshohocken, Pa.
Rheometers are tools similar to vane shear devices (in certain
configurations) and are used primarily in determining viscous
parameters of fluids. Some rheometers, for example, R/S Soft Solids
Tester by BROOKFIELD.RTM. Engineering, are adapted for testing
viscous and yield properties of soft solids by utilizing a
vane-shaped sensor. These instruments, however, test materials that
are not normally encountered in natural environments, for example,
materials that are typical to geotechnical investigations of either
terrestrial or marine sediments. Thus, these instruments can be
limited in rotational velocity and maximum torque capacity. These
limitations could make them insufficient for certain types of
geotechnical media and specific testing conditions. Further,
devices characterized by variable rate torque application can be
limited by the maximum rotational velocity that can be attained and
the maximum torque that can be applied, limiting the use of these
devices, especially for applications such as impact penetration and
burial of objects in marine sediments.
What is needed is an apparatus for measuring shear strength and
viscosity of sediments that extends both the maximum rotational
rate attainable and the maximum torque sustainable, and includes a
high data acquisition rate and data storage.
SUMMARY
To address the above-stated needs, the present teachings provide an
apparatus, method of making the apparatus, and method of using the
apparatus for accurately measuring, for example, but not limited
to, peak, evolution, and residual values of the undrained shear
strength, yield, and viscous and plastic flow (including hardening
and softening) characteristics of cohesive sediments at various
pre-set and variable values of the rotational velocity of the vane
sensor. The main purpose of the apparatus is to measure accurately
undrained shear strength, yield, and viscous flow characteristics
of cohesive sediments at various pre-set values of the rotational
velocity of the vane or other sensor. The purpose is to extend the
measurement ranges for the combination of torque and rotational
velocity to beyond those achievable by any other currently existing
research or commercial device available.
The apparatus is intended for direct measurements and constitutive
characterization of a variety of cohesive sediments. The apparatus
consists of a base on which a vertical column is mounted. The
vertical column includes a linear track on which a carriage plate
mounts, facilitating the mounting of the head assembly and allowing
for an easy set-up and adjustment of the measurement head position.
The head assembly consists of a drive motor, rotary torque sensor,
and the vane sensor for insertion into the sediment sample. The
carriage slides on the vertical column linear track and is
supported by a counter balance assembly that uses a constant
tension spring having a spring force equal to the weight of the
carriage and head assembly. The counter balance assembly allows the
carriage to be easily adjusted vertically thus inserting the vane
into the sediment sample with required accuracy in position and
minimal distortion of the sediment. The apparatus incorporates a
clamping system to support a variety of standard sample tubes in
which the sediment sample is contained. The motor is controlled by
a computer program that includes high speed data acquisition
capabilities to measure and record the torque produced by the vane
as a function of time.
The apparatus is capable of testing a wide range of materials, from
liquids, to semi-solids, and to solids of variable resistance to
shearing, including, but not limited to, a wide variety of marine
sediments. The apparatus is capable of testing at a high rotational
velocity and acquiring data at a high rate. The apparatus is
designed to receive sensor attachments, for example, conventional
attachments manufactured by, for example, but not limited to,
WYKEHAM FARRANCE.TM. attachments (W sensors) and BROOKFIELD.RTM.
Engineering attachments (B sensors). The attachments can be coupled
using, for example, adapters, and can include, for example, but not
limited to, vanes, concentric cylinders, bobs, double-gap sensors,
and cone and plate.
The apparatus for measuring characteristics of sediments can
include, but is not limited to including a sensor drive shaft
coupled to a one of a variety of sensors, for measuring
characteristics, a main measurement head applying a rotation rate
of up to 4000 rpm to the sensor drive shaft and determining an
undrained shear strength up to 230 kPa, and a computer, coupled to
the main measurement head, collecting the characteristics while the
rotation rate may be greater than 1200 rpm and the undrained shear
strength may be greater than 6 kPa.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram front and rear isometric views of an
embodiment of the apparatus of the present teachings;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of elevation and plan views of an
embodiment of the apparatus of the present teachings;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of exploded front and rear views of
the column assembly of an embodiment of the apparatus of the
present teachings; and
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the method of manufacture of the apparatus
of the present teachings.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an alternate method of manufacture of the
apparatus of the present teachings; and
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the method of use of the apparatus of the
present teachings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The problems set forth above as well as further and other problems
are solved by the present teachings. These solutions and other
advantages are achieved by the various embodiments of the teachings
described herein below.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, apparatus 100 for measuring
characteristics of sediments can include, but is not limited to
including, main tower 109 (FIG. 1) attached to base plate 113 (FIG.
1), main measurement head 104 (FIG. 1) connected to main tower 109
(FIG. 1) by constant load spring mechanism 107 (FIG. 1), for
positioning measurement head 104 (FIG. 1), said main measurement
head including a drive motor 103 (FIG. 1), a motor controller 131
(FIG. 1), a load cell shaft coupled with drive motor 103 (FIG. 1)
and a sensor drive shaft within a drive shaft housing 135 (FIG. 1)
via a coupler 117 (FIG. 1), said load cell shaft including a load
cell, a sensor 121 (FIG. 1) by attachment mechanism 115B (FIG. 1)
to the sensor drive shaft, and a vessel holding a sample, said
sensor 121 (FIG. 1) measuring characteristics of the sample. Sensor
121 (FIG. 1) supplies the measured characteristics to load cell 105
(FIG. 1), and load cell 105 (FIG. 1) supplies the measured
characteristics to a computer. Apparatus can optionally include an
attachment holder 115 (FIG. 1) coupled with attachment mechanism
115B (FIG. 1), special connector 101 (FIG. 3) rotatably coupling
the base plate 113 (FIG. 1) with the main tower 109 (FIG. 1), and
screws 137 (FIG. 1) fixedly coupling base plate 113 (FIG. 1) with
main tower 109 (FIG. 1). Sensor 121 (FIG. 1) can be, for example,
but not limited to, W sensors and B sensors. Main measurement head
104 can be configured to include torque load cell 105 (FIG. 1).
Referring now primarily to FIG. 2, drive motor side view 151 (FIG.
2) shows a different perspective of drive motor 103 (FIG. 1).
Torque load cell side view 153 (FIG. 2) shows a different
perspective of torque load cell 105 (FIG. 1). Coupler side view 155
(FIG. 2) shows a different perspective of coupler 117 (FIG. 1)
Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1-3, apparatus 100 for conducting
testing of undrained shear strength of water saturated cohesive
sediments as well as viscosity of a variety of soft solids and
viscous fluids can include, but is not limited to including, main
tower 109 (FIG. 1) attached to base plate 113 (FIG. 1). Base plate
113 (FIG. 1) can be connected to main tower 109 (FIG. 1) by, for
example, but not limited to, special connector 101 (FIG. 3) that
can allow for main tower 109 (FIG. 1) to be rotated to achieve
various orientations with respect to mounting base 119 (FIG. 1).
Base plate 113 (FIG. 1) and main tower 109 (FIG. 1) can be, for
example, fixed in position with screws 137 (FIG. 1). Main
measurement head 104 (FIG. 1), which includes main motor 103 (FIG.
1) and torque load cell 105 (FIG. 1), is connected to main tower
109 (FIG. 1) by constant load spring mechanism 107 (FIG. 1),
allowing for smooth and precise vertical sliding and positioning of
measurement head 104 (FIG. 1) at a desired height maintained in
part by counter balance 131. Load cell shaft (not shown) inside
torque load cell 105 (FIG. 1), is connected to drive motor 103
(FIG. 1) on the end nearest drive motor 103 (FIG. 1) and to a
sensor drive shaft (not shown) located within housing 135 (FIG. 1),
and attaches at one end to the load cell shaft via coupler 117
(FIG. 1). Torque load cell 105 (FIG. 1) can be, but is not limited
to being, a T8 ECO series contactless torque load cell,
manufactured by Interface Co. (www.interfaceforce.com). The output
of torque load cell 105 (FIG. 1) is via a DC voltage that can be
acquired, recorded, and converted to engineering units via a
calibration factor for torque. Torque load cell 105 (FIG. 1) can be
connected to a data acquisition card, for example, via a
switchboard in a computer. For example, a National Instruments
DAQCard-6036E, which has a 16-bit signal resolution and can sample
at 200 kHz, can be used. Coupler 117 (FIG. 1) can be, but is not
limited to being, Elastomer Coupling manufactured by R+W Co.
(www.rw-america.com). Couple Coupler 117 (FIG. 1) can include metal
alloy housings with an elastomer inserts of various stiffnesses.
These couplings can compensate for misalignment and vibration.
Sensor 121 (FIG. 1) is attached, in the case of W sensors, by
attachment mechanism 115B (FIG. 1). W sensors can be directly
attached, whereas B sensors can be attached to attachment mechanism
115B (FIG. 1) by a separate attachment (holder) 115A (FIG. 1).
Shown in FIG. 1 is a W sensor being attached by attachment
mechanism 115B (FIG. 1). To attach a B sensor, a coupler that fits
over attachment mechanism 115B (FIG. 1) is used, making it possible
to attach a variety of B sensors. Coupler 117 (FIG. 1) appears on
both sides of load cell 105 (FIG. 1). On one side, motor 103 (FIG.
1) is coupled to the load cell shaft by coupler 117 (FIG. 1) to
minimize off-axis forces of load cell 105 (FIG. 1) and an increase
in torque measurement accuracy. Coupler 117 (FIG. 1) can be
designed with elastomer inserts selected empirically to minimize
off-axis forces. The attachment of sensor 121 (FIG. 1) to the
sensor drive shaft (which is located inside housing 135 (FIG. 1))
can be completed, for example, by direct attachment, using a
built-in coupler for use with sensors including, but not limited
to, WYKEHAM FARRANCE.TM. vanes, or by using an additional coupler
that is attached to sensor drive shaft 115B (FIG. 1) and allows for
mounting all sensors available from, for example, but not limited
to, BROOKFIELD.RTM. Engineering for the Soft Solids Tester and
similar rheometers. The couplers securely fasten the vanes and
other sensor attachments so that the sensor (or vane) will not
disengage, decouple, or slip during testing.
Referring again to FIG. 1, to operate apparatus 100, a sample is
fixed at the base of the instrument via one of several available
options (depending on the type and the geometry of the sample).
Appropriate vane (or other sensor) is attached to the matching
coupler and then to the lower portion of the load cell shaft. The
main measurement head with the motor, load cell, and the mounted
vane (or other sensor) are then lowered into the specimen to the
desired depth and fixed in place by tightening the screws on the
slider part of the vertical tower assembly. At this stage the
device is ready for testing.
Testing can be conducted in a variety of ways, fully controlled via
the LabView.TM. developed software package. This is generally (but
not only) done under the conditions of the constant rotational
velocity, set via the software interface at the desired value and
not to exceed 4000 rpm (the motor limit). As the motor-vane
assembly is turning within the specimen, load cell 105 is
continuously measuring the torque. Data acquisition software is
monitoring, recording, and storing the measured torque, which is
generated by the resistance of the material being tested to
movement of the sensor package (vane, bob, etc.). The data
acquisition software is also monitoring, recording, and storing the
motor parameters, including current velocity, and position. From
these measurements, a variety of parameters of interest can be
derived, including undrained shear strength, residual shear
strength, viscosity, yield properties, and other as a function of
time, current rotational velocity, or position of the sensor within
the specimen.
Referring again to FIG. 1, apparatus 100 can improve measurement
capacities, including maximum torque and maximum rotational
velocity that can be achieved (see Table 1) and can improve the
ability to handle a variety of specimen sizes and shapes, including
traditional small specimens in boxes, beakers, core sub-sections,
and similar vessels, fully split long cores positioned flat on the
table (base plate), or full cores or long sections of cores
attached to the main tower of the device when it is rotated to the
full back position. This latter position allows for testing at ends
of long cores without sub-sampling or splitting and without
changing the preferred vertical orientation of the core (sampling
tube). Table 1 shows a comparison of device capacities of the
apparatus of the present teachings compared to alternative
devices.
TABLE-US-00001 Apparatus Perez- Biscontin of the Locat & Foguet
et & Pestana present Demers '88 al. '99 '01 teachings Max rate,
rpm 500; 1200 400 100 4000 Max Su, kPa 0.4, 0.05 0.6 6 230
Referring now primarily to FIG. 4, method 450 (FIG. 4) for
manufacturing an apparatus for measuring characteristics of
sediments can include, but is not limited to including, the steps
of attaching 451 (FIG. 4) main tower 109 (FIG. 1) to base plate 113
(FIG. 1), connecting 453 (FIG. 4) main measurement head 104 (FIG.
1) to main tower 109 (FIG. 1) by constant load spring mechanism 107
(FIG. 1), connecting 455 (FIG. 4) load cell shaft inside load cell
105 (FIG. 1) in main measurement head 104 (FIG. 1) to drive motor
103 (FIG. 1) at drive end 105A (FIG. 1) and to attachment end 105B
(FIG. 1) via coupler 117 (FIG. 1), and attaching 457 (FIG. 4)
sensor 121 (FIG. 1) to load cell shaft by attachment mechanism 115B
(FIG. 1). Optional steps can include attaching W sensors directly
to attachment mechanism 115B (FIG. 1), attaching B sensors to
attachment mechanism 115B (FIG. 1) using a coupler covering
attachment mechanism 115B (FIG. 1), selecting the sensors from a
group consisting of WYKEHAM FARRANCE.TM. vanes and BROOKFIELD.RTM.
Engineering rheometers, connecting base plate 113 (FIG. 1)
rotatably to main tower 109 (FIG. 1), fixing base plate 113 (FIG.
1) and main tower 109 (FIG. 1) in position with screws 137 (FIG.
1), and configuring main measurement head 104 (FIG. 1) with main
motor 103 (FIG. 1) and torque load cell 105 (FIG. 1).
Referring now primarily to FIG. 5, alternative method 500 (FIG. 5)
for manufacturing an apparatus for measuring characteristics of
sediments can include, but is not limited to including, the steps
of rotatably 501 (FIG. 5) coupling tower 109 (FIG. 1) having
proximal end 125 (FIG. 1) and opposing distal end 127 (FIG. 1),
having at least one bearing guide 126 (FIG. 1) extending from
proximal end 125 (FIG. 1) to distal end 127 (FIG. 1) and base plate
113 (FIG. 1) assembly, with mounting plate 119 (FIG. 1), coupling
503 (FIG. 5) measurement head 104 (FIG. 1) having motor 103 (FIG.
1) and torque load cell 105 (FIG. 1) with tower 109 (FIG. 1) at
proximal end 125 (FIG. 1) using a connecting mechanism, motor 103
(FIG. 1) having a motor drive shaft, coupling 505 (FIG. 5)
measurement head 104 (FIG. 1) with at least one bearing guide 126
(FIG. 1) and locking screw 114 (FIG. 1), coupling 507 (FIG. 5) a
load cell drive shaft with the motor drive shaft and with a sensor
drive shaft via couplers 117 (FIG. 1), and coupling 509 (FIG. 5) a
sensor with the sensor drive shaft. Optional steps can include
fixing base plate 113 (FIG. 1) in place with screws 137 (FIG. 1),
mounting height-adjustable specimen holder 133 (FIG. 1) on tower
109 (FIG. 1), and mounting girth-adjustable specimen holder 133
(FIG. 1) on tower 109 (FIG. 1). The connecting mechanism can be a
spring mechanism, and the spring mechanism can be constant load.
The couplers can be flexible.
Referring now primarily to FIG. 6, method 550 (FIG. 6) for using an
apparatus for measuring characteristics of materials can include,
but is not limited to including the steps of fixing 551 (FIG. 6) a
sample at the base of the apparatus, the apparatus including main
tower 109 (FIG. 1) attached to base plate 113 (FIG. 1), a main
measurement head 104 (FIG. 1) connected to the main tower 109 (FIG.
1) by a constant load spring mechanism 107 (FIG. 1), the main
measurement head including a drive motor, a load cell shaft coupled
with drive motor 103 and a sensor drive shaft within a drive shaft
housing 135 (FIG. 1) via a coupler 117 (FIG. 1), the load cell
shaft including a load cell, a sensor 121 (FIG. 1) configured to
attach by attachment mechanism 115B (FIG. 1) to the sensor drive
shaft, a vessel holding a sample, the sensor configured to measure
characteristics of the sample and the motor, the sensor configured
to supply the measured characteristics to the load cell, the load
cell configured to supply the measured characteristics to a
computer, attaching 553 (FIG. 6) the sensor to the attachment
mechanism and the load cell shaft, lowering 555 (FIG. 6) the main
measurement head having the motor, the load cell, and the attached
sensor into a specimen to a pre-selected depth, fixing 557 (FIG. 6)
the main measurement head in place by tightening screws on a slider
part of the main tower, setting 559 (FIG. 6) a rotational velocity,
monitoring, recording, and storing 561 (FIG. 6) characteristics of
the material and the motor sensed by the load cell, and deriving
563 (FIG. 6) undrained shear strength, residual shear strength,
viscosity, and yield properties as a function of time and the
characteristics. The characteristics can include, but are not
limited to including, torque generated by the resistance of the
material to movement of the sensor, motor current velocity, motor
position, and motor torque.
Referring again to FIG. 1, apparatus 100 has, in comparison to
existing technology, high torque capacity, high velocity, digitally
controlled and monitored motor, high precision, infinite-rotation
load-cell for accurate torque measurements at variety of speeds,
load-compensated sliding head lift mechanism for easier and more
precise placement of the sensor (vane) in the testing medium,
rotating design for the main assembly tower, allowing for testing
of small core sub-section and other specimens in small containers,
full spit cores, and long upright positioned cores without
sub-sectioning (main tower in rotated back position), high speed
data acquisition and control system and software written using, for
example, but not limited to, a LABVIEW.RTM. package, and the
ability to accept different sensors, for example, but not limited
to, via two specially designed couples, including standard WYKEHAM
FARRANCE.TM. vanes, and sensors supplied by BROOKFIELD.RTM.
Engineering R/S Soft Solids Tester (vane, concentric cylinder, cup
and plate, etc.). Apparatus 100 can include, but is not limited to
including, National Instruments DAQCard-6036 E (having 16-bit
resolution, 200 kHz acquisition rate) and National Instruments
LabView software. The commercial software is augmented by
acquisition software in which data are acquired at a maximum rate
of, for example, 200 kHz, and conditioned and time-averaged to
manage natural fluctuations and noise. The acquisition software can
increase data accuracy by filtering out or smoothing out the
electrical noise. For example, using a moving average of 20 would
yield approximately 0.42 data points per degree rotation at a
maximum angular velocity of 4000 rpm. This corresponds to
approximately a 2.4.degree. rotation per measurement. In this
example, the frequency of measurements is sufficient for accurate
results in geologic materials. Apparatus 100 can also store the
acquired and filtered/conditioned data on conventional mass storage
devices (not shown).
The present embodiment is directed, in part, to software for
accomplishing the methods discussed herein, and computer readable
media storing software for accomplishing these methods. The various
modules described herein can be accomplished on the same CPU, or
can be accomplished on different computers. In compliance with the
statute, the present embodiment has been described in language more
or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to
be understood, however, that the present embodiment is not limited
to the specific features shown and described, since the means
herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the present
embodiment into effect.
Referring again primarily to FIG. 6, method 550 can be, in whole or
in part, implemented electronically. Signals representing actions
taken by elements of apparatus 100 (FIG. 1) and other disclosed
embodiments can travel over at least one live communications
network. Control and data information can be electronically
executed and stored on at least one computer-readable medium.
Components of the apparatus can be implemented to execute on at
least one computer node in at least one live communications
network. Common forms of a computer-readable medium can include,
for example, but not be limited to, a floppy disk, a flexible disk,
a hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a compact
disk read only memory or any other optical medium, punched cards,
paper tape, or any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a
random access memory, a programmable read only memory, and erasable
programmable read only memory (EPROM), a Flash EPROM, or any other
memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer
can read. Further, the computer readable medium can contain graphs
in any form including, but not limited to, Graphic Interchange
Format (GIF), Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), Portable
Network Graphics (PNG), Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), and Tagged
Image File Format (TIFF).
Although the present teachings have been described with respect to
various embodiments, it should be realized these teachings are also
capable of a wide variety of further and other embodiments.
* * * * *
References